Teen, 17, sentenced for crash that killed 16-year-old

The family of a 16-year-old Howell student killed in a 2015 crash called the teen driver who caused the crash and his parents liars while asking for a 30-day sentence.

The probation office requested Cameron Smith receive a 10-day sentence for a moving violation causing the death of Griffin Robert Matley, who died in a dune-buggy-like vehicle crash Oct. 21, 2015.

However, attorney referee Sandra Aspinall said a longer sentence, which she was “inclined to do,” would derail the senior’s graduation, and “that doesn’t rehabilitate him.”

“There is a lot I want to say, but I can’t because my lawyer told me not to,” said Smith, who sat at the defense table with his head down during Thursday's disposition hearing in juvenile court in Howell.

Aspinall questioned whether Smith understood the gravity of his actions and she tearfully noted there “was no way” to make the victim’s family whole in her sentencing decision.

She also ordered Smith to complete Midcourse Correction Challenge Camp, which targets at-risk youth between 11 and 17, and to complete 320 hours of community service; intensive in-home counseling; two court watch programs; and two victim impact panels.

Aspinall told Smith to think twice when complaining about the restrictions because he is going home to his family — unlike his victim. She also chided Smith’s parents for their conduct, including swearing, toward court staff.

“You’re lucky you didn’t die,” she told Smith.

Police said Smith, then 16, was driving a 1971 Volkswagen dune-buggy-style vehicle west on Davis Road around 5:30 p.m. when he lost control and left the roadway.

The vehicle, which was airborne for about 40 feet, crashed into a tree about a half-mile east of D-19 in Marion Township.

Matley was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he was pronounced dead.

Defense attorney William McCririe said his client and his parents have “feelings of grief and sadness” and would offer an apology, but they cannot because of a pending civil lawsuit.

“There was no malice in anyone’s heart or mind,” he said. “Mr. Smith had no intention … to kill anyone.”

Mark Reizen, the victim’s maternal grandfather, told the court that Smith and his parents attempted to “evade responsibility.” He said Smith initially claimed potholes caused the crash, but then he blamed the victim before blaming a “washboard” road.

The truth, Reizen said, is that three of the vehicle’s four brakes were not operating, and the fourth operated at only 20 percent.

“Cameron Smith and his parents lied” during their testimony when all three claimed the “brakes worked just fine,” Reizen said.

Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Rose said the Smith family’s line at trial was the brakes were fine despite “every shred of evidence showed that was not true.”

Rose said that while Matley turned purple and gasped for his last breaths, Smith turned to a woman following the crash and said, “I think I killed my buddy. Am I going to jail for this?”

Rose said Smith’s comment showed his “motivation to look out for himself.”

“Cameron does a good job looking out for Cameron,” he said. “He reflects the values of his parents.”

Matley’s family, the prosecution and the court all took issue with Smith’s post-crash behavior, noting that the now 17-year-old teen was doing doughnuts on school grounds in the dark when other students arrived to school.

Smith posted a video of his stunt to his Facebook page.

“He should not be permitted to drive,” Reizen said. “Livingston County now has its own poster boy for affluenza — Cameron Smith.”